Grain scouring machine



Jan. 11, 1938. J. A. M BRADY GRAIN SGOURING MACHINE Filed Jan. 1

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John A. M BFady Jltlorneqs Patented Jan. 11, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GItAm SCOURINGMACHINE John A. McBrady, Valley City, N. Dak. Al plication January 13, 1936, Serial No. 58,805

i for an object to provide a machine-of such character which will be highly efficient in operation.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a grain scouring machine which will be highly practical and simple in construction.

' a A still further object of the invention resides in providing a grain scouring machine in which the grain is projected against a corrugated surface,

Another object of the invention residesin providing a grain scouring machine in which the grain is deposited upon a reticulate member and thrown by centrifugal force from said member and against a corrugated surface and in which the screenings through said reticulate member are removed from the machine separately from the scoured grain.

An object of the invention resides in providing a grain scouring machine having a vertically extending shaft provided with a number of spaced discs thereon and a case encircling said shaft together with means operated by the shaft for throwing the grain deposited upon the discs outwardly therefrom by centrifugal force and against the inner walls of the case.

A feature of the invention resides in providing hoppers for collecting the grain discharged from certain of said discs and depositing it upon other of said discs.

Another object of the invention resides in constructing the walls of the case with the corrugations against which the grain is thrown.

A still further object of the invention resides in constructing the case rectangular in cross section.

An object of the invention resides in constructing the discs reticulate and in forming the shaft hollow and with openings communicating with the space within the case immediately below the discs.

A feature of the invention resides in providing funnels encircling the shaft connected to the reticulate discs and to the shaft below the openings therein for directing the screenings through the discs into the shaft.

An object of the invention resides in providing suction means for removing the screenings through the reticulate discs.

Another object of the invention resides in conmeeting the suction means to said hollow shaft.

oth r bj c o t e invenfiewedde in he novel combinat on and arran ement 9 carts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a grain scouring machine illustrating an embodiment of 5 my invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and drawn to a larger scale.

Fig. 3 is a plan sectional View similar to Fig. 2 and taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

In the scouring of grain by the ordinary methods it has been customary to remove the beards, ends, etc. by throwing the grain by centrifugal force against a fixed surface. Such methods are highly inefficient in that the grain only strikes the surface but a single time during each operation. This makes the method slow. With such machines the separation of the loosened matter from the clean grain has been accomplished by independent separating devices. The present invention overcomes these objections by providing a machine in which the grain strikes the surface against which it is thrown a number of times during each operation so that less operations are necessary than would otherwise be required. At the same time the matter removed from the grain is automatically separated therefrom and discharged from the machine, thereby eliminating subsequent separation.

My invention comprises a framework indicated in its entirety by the reference character A, which rotatably supports a rotor B. Framework A also carries a case C which surrounds the rotor 13 and functions in a manner to assist in the scouring of the'grain as will be presently more fully described. These various parts will now be described in detail.

The framework A comprises a base in which is provided with two skids H and I2 connected together by means of two cross frame members l3 and I4, welded thereto. Attached to the skids ll and I2 and to the cross members I3 and [4 are four uprights l5, l6, l1 and I8 which are secured together at their upper ends through cross frame members l9. The skids and the various frame members may, if desired, be constructed of angle iron or some other similar material and are riveted, bolted or welded together.

The case C comprises four walls 2|, 22, 23 and 24 and the three walls 22, 23 and 23 are riveted or bolted to the flanges of the angle uprights I5, l6, l1 and 18. The other wall 2| serves as a door and closes a doorway 25 formed in a door frame door frame is attached to the uprights ,l and door 2| is hingedly connected to the frame 26 by means of hinges 20 and is provided with one or more bolts 21 or other fastening members along its other edge by means of which said door may be held. in position. The case C reaches to the floor or other surface on which it rests, being thus closed at its lower end. The walls 2 I, 22, 23 and 24 of case C are provided with vertically extending corrugations 28 which provide corrugated surfaces 29 upon the interior of the case extending throughout the height thereof. These corrugations function in a manner to be presently more fully described.

The rotor B includes a hollow or tubular shaft 3| which is formed with a bore 32 extending throughout the length of the same. Bore 32 is closed at the upper end by means of an end wall 33 welded to shaft 3I. The shaft 3I is journaled in two bearings 34 and 35. These bearings are identical in construction and are supported by the framework A in the same manner. For this reason only bearing 34 and its support will be described in detail. The bearing 34 may be of any suitable type and for the purpose of illustration a plain bearing has been shown. This bearmg comprises a body 36 and a cap 3! therefor which is removably attached to said body by means of bolts 38.- Bearing 34 is supported by means of two brackets 4| and 42 which may be constructed of strap iron bent in the form shown in Fig. 2 and'which are attached to the flanges of the frame member uprights I5, I5, I1 and I8. The shaft 3 I may be inserted into the case through the doorway 25 and when properly positioned, the

. caps 3'5 of the bearings which face said doorway may be applied to the bearings to rotatably support the shaft within its bearings.

Shaft 3i is driven by means of a bevel gear 43 which is secured to said shaft and which is constructed with a hub 44 resting upon the bearing 35. This hub holds the shaft 3! from downward longitudinal movement in its bearings. To prevent upward longitudinal movement of the shaft 3|, a collar 45 is provided which is secured to said shaft and engages the bearing 35 upon the under surface thereof. Bevel gear 43 meshes with another bevel gear 46 which is attached to a countershaft 47. This countershaft is jour naled in bearings 48 which are carried by cross frame members 49 secured to the uprights I5 and it. The countershaft 41 has attached to it upon the exterior of the case a sprocket wheel 5|. A chain 52 passes over this sprocket wheel and another sprocket wheel 53 rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 54 secured to a bracket 55 which is attached to the upright I5 by means of bolts 56. A pulley 5! is connected to the sprocket wheel 53 and serves to drive the counter-shaft 41. The device may be operated by the said pulley or in place thereof a crank may be used whereby the device may be manually operated.

Shaft 31 has attached to it a number of spaced discs 58 Which are of a diameter somewhat less than the inner transverse dimensions of the case. These discs may be brazed, welded or otherwise secured to the shaft. The discs 58 are reticulate, being constructed with perforations 59 of such dimensions that the dust, whiskers, tips, chaff and other matter removed from the grain may pass through the perforations and yet prevent the passage of grain through the same. Superimposing the discs 58 are blades 6| which are secured to said discs and to the shaft by brazing, welding, or otherwise, and which serve to throw the grain deposited upon the discs outwardly by centrifugal force. Immediately below the discs 58 are provided funnels 62 which engage the under surface of the said discs at localities outwardly from the perforations 55. These funnels are also attached to the shaft 3I in the same manner as the discs 58 and blades 6 I. The shaft 3| is provided with openings 63 extending therethrough which are situated between the lowermost portions of the funnels 62 and the discs 58. Any dust or foreign material which passes through the perforations 59 is guided by these funnels into the bore 32 of the shaft 3| through the openings 63.

In the operation of the machine, the grain deposited .upon the discs 58 is thrown outwardly by centrifugal force by means of the blades El whereby it strikes the corrugated surfaces 29 of the case C. The impact of the grain against these surfaces breaks off the whiskers, ends and other parts of the grain desired to be removed therefrom through the scouring action afforded. Due to the use of the corrugated surfaces the grain bounces from one corrugation to the other,

thereby striking the surfaceseveral times during each operation. For the purpose of directing the grain striking the surfaces 29 of the case C back to the discs 58 a number of hoppers 65 are employed. These hoppers have three converging walls 65, 66 and 61 and are open at the front of the case. At the edges 68 of hoppers are provided grooves, not shown, which receive the fourth wall 69 of the hoppers. The walls 65, 56, El and 69 are constructed with flanges H which fit against the inner walls of the case and by means of which the hoppers are attached to the case. At the center of each hopper is provided an opening I2 preferably circular, which is concentric withthe shaft 3I and which directs the grain deposited upon the hopper to the center of the disc below it. By means of the hoppers and the structure carried by the shaft 3|, the grain is successively thrown by the discs outwardly against the walls of the case and thereafter grain deposited upon the discs so that the grain finally travels downwardly throughout the height of the machine.

In order to direct the grain into the machine a hopper I3 is employed which is situated at the top of the machine and which is attached to the cross frame members I9. This hopper has an outlet I4 disposed to one side of the shaft 3i p which discharges upon the uppermost of the discs 58. A slide I5 is guided'for transverse movement by means of a guide 16 to open and close the outlet I4 so that the amount of grain fed to the machine can be controlled at will.

For the purposeof removing the scoured grain from the machine a hopper IT similar to the hoppers 64 is employed which is disposed immediately below the lowermost disc 58. ,The hopper I1 is attached to the case C in the same manner as the hoppers 64. This hopper is constructed with an inclined bottom I8 which terminates in a spout I9 extending through the wall 23 of the case. A sleeve 8| attached to the wall I8 of hopper 11 is surrounded by another sleeve 82 attached to shaft 31 and rotatable with said shaft. By means of this construction, dust is prevented from passing through the joint between the shaft 3| and the hopper I8.

Removal of the dust and other foreign matter separated from the grain through the reticulate discs is accomplished by means of a suction fan indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 83. This suction fan may be constructed in ac- 'cordance with the usual practice and comprises a 75 case 8% in which is rotatably mounted a rotor 85. A hearing 86 is attached to the case 94 and journals a shaft 8! to which the rotor 85 is rigidly secured. The shaft 87 extends through the wall 22 of case C and has attached to it at the protruding end thereof a sprocket wheel 88. A chain 89 passes over the sprocket wheel 88 and another sprocket wheel 9| secured to countershaft 41. By means of this construction the suction fan is operated in the usual manner. The case 84 is supported by means of two brackets 92 which are attached to the same and to the uprights l5 and it of the framework of the machine.

For the purpose of bringing the shaft 3| into communication with the suction fan 83 an elbow 93 is provided which is constructed at one end with a bore 94 into'which the lower end 95 of shaft 3! extends. Shaft 3| is rotatably mounted in said bore and forms a fairly snug fit with the elbow so that leakage of air past the same is prevented. Elbow 93 is also constructed with a flange 96 which is bolted to the case 84 opposite the center of the rotor 85 by means of bolts 91. Case'89 is also constructed with an'outlet 98 which has attached to it a spout 99 arranged in inclined relation with respect to said suction fan so that matter collected thereby may flow by gravity out of the machine. To permit of the entry of air into the machine, the walls 2 I, 22, 23 and 2 3 of case C are constructed with openings I9! which are situated immediately below the hoppers.

The method of assembling the invention is as follows: The shaft 3| is constructed with the discs and funnels and sleeve attached to the same. Sleeve 8! is next threaded upon the end 95 of said shaft and gear 43 and collar 45 next applied thereto. The caps 37 of the bearings 34'and 35 are next removed and likewise all of the sliding wall s'69 of the hoppers 84. The shaft 31 with attached parts is next inserted into the case through the doorway 25 and the shaft placed within the bearings 34 and 35. After the shaft is applied the sleeve 8! is adjusted so that the same rests upon the wall 78 of hopper 11. Caps 3'! are next bolted to the bearings and the gear 43 raised or lowered until the discs have the proper relation with respect to the hoppers. The collar 45 is next fixed in the proper position and the various walls 69 of the hoppers replaced. Suction fan 88 is next inserted into the case C in such a manner that the shaft 3| extends into the elbow 93. Brackets 92 supporting said suction fan are then attached to the uprights l5 and IS. The two chains 52 and 89 are next applied to the sprockets and the device is ready for operation.

The operation of the inventionis as follows: The grain, upon being deposited in the hopper, is fed through the outlet of said hopper, onto the uppermost of the discs 58. The fiow of grain is controlled by the slide 15 so that the desired amount of grain may pass through the machine. The grain upon striking the first disc 58 is thrown outwardly through centrifugal force by means of the blades 5! associated therewith and strikes the corrugated surface 29 of the case C. During such action the grain is being scoured and when the grain has lost its impetus, drops upon the uppermost of the hoppers 64. This hopper directs the grain upon the disc 58 next to the uppermost disc, where the same action is repeated. The grain thus travels alternately from disc to hopper until it is finally deposited on the hopper 1'1 and discharged from the machine through spout 19. While the scouring action is taking place the dust, whiskers, ends and other matter on the grain which it is desired to remove by the scouring process, is screened through the perforations 59 of the reticulate discs 58 and passes into the various funnels 52 attached to shaft 3|. This action is aided by the suction fan 83 which causes the flow of air through the reticulate discs and into said shaft. By arranging the openings I9! at the localities specified escape of dust from the machine is prevented and the air is led through the machine in an extremely practicable and efficient manner. The suction fan 83 discharges the air, dust and other matter separated from the grain through the spout 19 which may be connected to a suitable dust collector in which the air and dust are separated or said spout may be led directly to the exterior as desired.

My invention is extremely simple and practical in operation and functions in a highly efficient manner. In addition to scouring the grain the removed matter is simultaneously separated from the grain so that the grain leaves the machine in a clean condition. By the use of the corrugated surfaces upon the interior of the case, greater scouring action is procured and less power is required in the scouring of the grain. My machine may be operated either manually or by power and may be used for either test purposes or for the purpose of scouring grain preparatory to grinding into flour. My invention is exceedingly compact and occupies a minimum amount of floor space. The various parts of the invention may be easily assembled and taken apart for the purpose of cleaning and repair whenever necessary.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A grain scouring machine including a vertically extending hollow shaft, a plurality of spaced discs attached to said shaft, means operated by the shaft for throwing grain deposited upon the discs outwardly therefrom by centrifugal force, enclosing means extending about said discs and against which the grain discharged from the discs is projected, hoppers for collecting the grain discharged from certain of said discs and depositing it upon other of said discs, said discs being provided with perforations and said shaft having openings therein situated immediately below said discs, and means connected with said hollow shaft for drawing screenings removed by the perforations in the discs through said openings and shaft and discharging the same exteriorly of the case.

2. A grain scouring machine including a vertically extending hollow shaft, a plurality of spaced discs attached to said shaft, means operated by the shaft for throwing grain deposited upon the discs outwardly therefrom by centrifugal force, enclosing means extending about said discs and against which the grain discharged from the discs is projected, hoppers for collecting the grain discharged from certain of the discs and depositing it upon other of the discs, said discs being provided with perforations and said shaft having openings therein situated immediately below said discs, funnels encircling said shaft and disposed below said discs, said funnels being connected to the discs outwardly of the perforations therein and to the shaft below the openings therein and guiding the screenings from the perforations of the disc into said shaft.

3. A grain scouring machine including a vertically extending hollow shaft, a plurality of spaced discs attached to said shaft, means operated by the shaft for throwing grain deposited upon the discs outwardly therefrom by centrifugal force, enclosing means extending about said discs and against which the grain discharged from the discs is projected, hoppers for collecting the grain discharged from certain of the discs and depositing it upon other of said discs, said discs being'provided with perforations and said shaft having openings therein situated immediately below said discs, funnels encircling said shaft .and disposed below said discs, said funnels being connected to the discs-outwardly of the perforations therein and to the shaft below the openings therein and guiding the screenings from the perforations of the disc into said shaft, and suction means connected with said shaft.

4. A grain scouring machine including a vertically extending hollow shaft, a plurality of spaced reticulate discs attached to said shaft, means operated by the shaft for throwing the grain deposited upon the discs outwardly therefrom by centrifugal force, enclosing means extending about said discs and having a corrugated surface against which the grain discharged from the discs is projected, hoppers for collecting the grain discharged from certain of said discs and depositing it upon other of said discs, said shaft having openings therein disposed immediately below said discs, funnels encircling said shaft and connected to said discs near the peripheries thereof and to said shaft below said openings, and suction means connected to said shaft.

5. A grain. scouring machine including a vertically extending shaft, a plurality of spaced reticulate discs attached to said shaft, one above the other, means operated by the shaft for throwing the grain deposited upon the discs outwardly therefrom by centrifugal force, enclosing means extending about said discs and against which the grain is projected, hoppers for collecting the grain discharged by centrifugal force from each disc and depositing it upon the disc immediately below the same and a plurality of collecting devices, one for each disk for receiving the screenings passing through said disks and means for removing the screenings collected by collecting devices.

6. A grain scouring machine including a vertically extending shaft, a plurality of spaced reticulate discs attached to said shaft, one above the other, means operated by the shaft for throwing the grain deposited upon the discs outwardly therefrom by centrifugal force, enclosing means extending about said. discs and against which the grain is projected, hoppers for collecting the grain discharged from each of said discs and depositing it upon the discs immediately below the same, funnels disposed below said reticulate discs for collecting the screenings passing through said discs, and means for collecting the screenings from all of said funnels.

7. A grain scouring machine including a vertically extending shaft, a plurality of spaced reticulate discs attached to said shaft, means operated by the shaft for throwing the grain deposited upon the discs outwardly therefrom by centrifugal force, enclosing means extending about said discs and against which the grain is projected, hoppers for collecting the grain discharged from certain of said discs and depositing it upon other of said discs, funnels disposed below said reticulate discs for collecting the screenings passing through said discs, and suction means for collecting the screenings from all of said funnels. a

JOHN A. MCBRADY. 

